Compare towns
Danforth vs Ellsworth vs Island Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danforth | Ellsworth | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
8,657Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$242,300±$22kHighest 18% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Ellsworth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Ellsworth Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | Ellsworth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.